Legislation Introduced To Restore Commissions To Oversee DEQ

Democratic lawmakers in the Michigan House and Senate want to restore a pair of citizen oversight commissions that were abolished in the early 90’s.

The commissions oversaw the water and air divisions of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.

State Representative Sheldon Neeley, who represents Flint, says if the commissions were still in place today they may have caught on to the Flint water crisis quicker than the state did.

He says people living in Michigan, whether they live in Flint or not, shouldn’t have to worry about the things most people take for granted every day – namely clean water and clean air.

The legislation would restore a Water Resources Commission and Air Pollution Control Commission.